Alright, let me take this one at a time. It's not my place to say what will or won't be "known" in the future, so I'll instead focus on whether or not I care if these things get phased out within my lifetime.
Video tape: Heck, no skin off my nose if that goes. I mean, I'd hope they're backing up their data on
something physical, though (that goes for anything becoming digital-only in the coming items).
Travel agents: I hate to put some people out of the job, but the (awesome) democratization of information really does make this one pointless... well, on second thought, make that "less necessary". There should be a human element to cut through the crap in some jobs, and this is one.
The separation of work and home: Depends on the job. 9-5 office work? Sure, but I'd question anything else.
Books, magazines, and newspapers: Okay, I'm going to have to back up for this one. First of all, how are we defining "kids" in the future? Let's just assume, for the sake of the argument, that we're talking about ten-year-olds in 2021. Now like I said, technology is expanding exponentially, but do you mean to tell me that, in under a decade, every Barnes & Noble, every Borders, every public library will be shut down? I call BS.
Movie rental stores: For someone like me who lives in the middle of nowhere with no decent internet, I really would prefer that the local Hollywood Video hadn't shut down. Yes, there's a Redbox at the grocery store, but it's not the same. In the future, I'm sure I won't miss them, but there's something to be said for pacing the aisles in search of a movie.
Watches: I don't have one, but that's because I'm usually around a wall clock, or have my iPod. As far as I'm concerned, they can go.
Paper maps: Oh come on, we still need a few of these around.
Wired phones: "Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall?" Because it didn't need to be charged and didn't give you radiation, wiseguy.
Long distance: Oh, that can definitely die.
Newspaper classifieds: Sure, toss that one on the burner, too.
Dial-up Internet: Holy
Christ, do I hope so.
Encyclopedias: Yeah, these are pretty silly. I like big books of cool facts, though.
Forgotten friends: Okay, this is going to be abrupt, but... well, I'm worried about how kids in the future are going to cope with loss when they have the technology to talk to anyone they've ever known. Am I being dramatic? Maybe, but for all of human history until relatively recently, losing and making new friends was a part of life. This isn't about technology or convenience, it's about basic human social structure.
Forgotten anything else:
Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since you have it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?
This guy has to be trolling, because that is practically the opening quote to a half-dozen Orwellian novels. "Why bother remembering anything?" Because you have a brain, dumb***. And just because all of humanity's collective knowledge is available doesn't mean people will go looking for it, especially if they already think it's true or false. You can disprove everything from the "don't swim half an hour after eating" myth to the "dog who ate a cell phone" story in half a minute, but I guarantee you there's still people out there
now who believe it.
The evening news: I'll admit it, that
is no longer necessary. Then again, so is pretty much any TV news.
CDs: See "video tape". Also, hard drive space better [darn] well increase if we're going to give the finger to music stored on something made out of atoms.
Film cameras: Once again, cellphone and what-have-you better get some better features to topple legit film cameras.
Yellow and White Pages: Oh my God, throw those things
away.
Catalogs: Well... I guess these can go. I miss the Nintendo Power ones, though, and the Think Geek catalogs are kind of fun to flip through.
Fax machines: Even when
I was a kid, these seemed weird to me. Sure, give 'em the axe.
One picture to a frame: There is nothing wrong with this.
Wires: I want these to go, but I also know that'll cause me to be even
more paranoid about the cloud of cancer-causing whatever that's flying around my electronics.
Hand-written letters: Yeah, because putting real
meaning behind your thoughts is for squares.
Talking to one person at a time: Also set to die in the next few years: Respect!
Retirement plans: I'm embarassed to say I actually don't know a lot about retirement plans, so the sarcastic write-up for this one flies over my head. I guess we have to save up on our own now...?
Mail: Packages and the occasional magazine aside, I
guess I wouldn't mind this one.
Commercials on TV: Yes! But... at what cost?
Commercial music radio: Hey, I've never really liked radio, so whatever. Might be nice for the car, though.
Hiding: This one is just downright sinister to end the article with; it could've just as well read "privacy"... or safety. But like corporations and the government will stand for that!
PS: I was typing this when Luigison put up his analysis, so I'll respond to that later when he's done.
...And I can't believe the chick with the Justin Bieber avatar is the one I agree with most in that comments section.
